SEAWEED PARK IN TAMIL NADU

OnPage April 21, 2022 GS3 Leave a comment 281 Views

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying will set up a seaweed park in Tamil Nadu to improve the livelihood of fishermen.
Tamil Nadu has been requested to set aside space for a Special Economic Zone for seaweed farming.
In 2021, the Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) had launched a Seaweed Mission.
They are the primitive, marine non-flowering marine algae without root, stem and leaves, play a major role in marine ecosystems.
Large seaweeds form dense underwater forests known as kelp forests, which act as underwater nurseries for fish, snails and sea urchins.
Some species of seaweeds viz. Gelidiella acerosa, Gracilaria edulis, Gracilaria crassa, Gracilaria verrucosa, Sargassum spp. and Turbinaria spp.
Seaweed is a source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and can be tasty.
Many seaweeds contain anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial agents. Their known medicinal effects have been legion for thousands of years.
Certain seaweeds possess powerful cancer-fighting agents that researchers hope will eventually prove effective in the treatment of malignant tumors and leukemia in people.
Seaweed has also contributed to economic growth. Among their many uses in manufacturing, they are effective binding agents (emulsifiers) in such commercial goods as toothpaste and fruit jelly, and popular softeners (emollients) in organic cosmetics and skin-care products.
When waste from agriculture, industries, aquaculture and households are let into the ocean, it causes nutrient imbalance leading to algal blooming, the sign of marine chemical damage. Seaweeds absorb the excess nutrients and balance out the ecosystem.
These aquatic organisms heavily rely on iron for photosynthesis. When the quantity of this mineral exceeds healthy levels and becomes dangerous to marine life, seaweeds trap it and prevent damage. Similarly, most heavy metals found in marine ecosystems are trapped and removed by seaweeds.
On their part, the seaweeds derive nutrition through photosynthesis of sunlight and nutrients present in seawater. They release oxygen through every part of their bodies. They also supply organic nutrients to other marine life forms.
It is the practice of cultivating and harvesting seaweed.
In its simplest form, it consists of the management of naturally found batches.
In its most advanced form, it consists of fully controlling the life cycle of the algae.
Seaweeds are abundant along the Tamil Nadu and Gujarat coasts and around Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.